Communication system



l, 1932` A F DlxoN 1,847,174

COIIUNICATION SYSTEM Filed May 14. 1930 /NVENTOR A. E mxo/v A TTO/PNEY Patented Mar. l, lBZl -QUNITED STATES PATENT carica AMOS DIXON, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW' YORK, N. Y., A` CORPORATON OF NEW YORK Application filed May` 14, 1930.`

y This invention relates' to communication systems, such as telephone and telegraph systems, and particularly to service-charging arrangements employed therein to make the necessary charges for the service rendered.

The obj ects of the invention are to simplify and to render more reliable the equipment employed in communication systems for making service charges based on the duration of thecommunication kand to otherwise effect improvements in systems and apparatus of this character.

It has been proposed heretofore to charge the calling subscribers in a telephone system for the service rendered by providing in common to a plurality of link circuits a meteroperating device `which automatically becomes associated with each link utilized in establishing a telephone connectionand serves to periodically operate the calling subscribers meter during thetime the connection is held for conversation; y, VAccording to the present invention, improvements and advantages are secured over these prior arrangements by means of a system in which the common meter-operating device, instead of definitely associating itself with any link throughout the duration of a conversation held over such link, makes a 0 periodic survey of all links to which it is common, and, upon finding any link involved in a connection between two subscribers lines, proceeds to operate the meter of the calling subscriber. By regulating the cycle of operation of the common meter operator, the interval between successive tests of any link circuit may be fixed at any desired value, such as one minute, three minutes, iive minutes, or a fractional part of a minute.

The drawing accompanying this specification illustrates a portion of a telephone 'exchange system, showing two subscribers lines and one of a plurality of operators cord circuits for joining the lines in conversation, 'i together with the common meter-operating device.

The subscribers lines, including the lines A and B, appear at the operators position in the jacks at the central ottice, line A terminating in the ack l and the line B terminating COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Serial No. 452,194.

in the jack 2. Each subscriber-s line is equipped with a service meter such as the meter 3 connected to the line A. The operators position is provided with a plurality of cord circuits C, any one of which may be employed by her for establishing a conversationa1 connection between two subscribers lines. The cord circuit C comprises fthe answering plug 4, the calling plug 5, the repeating coil 6, and answering and calling supervisory relays 7 and 8, respectively.

The central oiiice is also equipped with a meter operator MO which is common to a plurality of operators cord circuit C. The meter operator MO comprises a stepping switch or contact maker consisting of a brush 9 and a contact bank, the brush 9 being driven by any suitable means such as a stepping magnet l0, and also a source of meter-operating current l1. The terminals of the contact bank ofthe meter operator are connected to the various cord circuits to which the device is common. The speed of operation of the brush 9 is such that it makes engagement l with `any given terminal once in a predetermined interval, such as once in one minute, three minutes, or five minutes. It, at the time the brush 9 encounters the terminal individual to any particular cord circuit C, that cord is involved in a conversational connection between two subscribers lines and the parties are actually conversing, a circuit is establish through the supervisory relays for effecting a single operation of the subscribers meter.

Assume, for example, that the subscriber of line A desires to hold a conversation with the subscriber of line B. When the call is initiated, the operator responds to the usual calling signal by inserting the answering plug 4 in the jack l of the subscribers line. After ascertaining the designation of the wanted line, the operator inserts the calling plug 5 of the cord C in the ack 2 of the subscribers line B and applies signaling current in the well-known manner. The answering supervisory relay 7 is operated by means of a circuit from the positive pole of the battery through the upper left winding of repeatingcoil 6, thence over the tip of the plug l and ack 1, over the loop of the calling line A, and returning through the jack and pluD,

through the supervisory relay 7, lower left winding of the coil 6 to the opposite pole ot 5 battery. Relay 7 operates in this circuit.

Vhen the called subscriber answers, theloop of substation B is closed, and a circuit is com pleted from positive pole of battery through the upper right winding of coil 6, thence over the called subscriber-s loop, and returning through the winding of relay 8 and the lower right winding of the coil 6 to the opposite pole of battery. The supervisory relay 8 operates in this circuit.

In the meantime, the meter operator MO is advancing from one terminal to another. As soon after both supervisory Vrelays 7 and 8 have operated as the brush 9 encounters the terminal 12, a circuit is established from the meter-operating battery 11, brush 9, terminal 12, contacts ot relay 8 and 7, through the sleeve of the plug l and ack 1 and the winding ot the meter 3 to ground. The meter Boperates in this circuit to assess a single charge against the calling line A. The meter operator MO continues to advance over succeeding terminals, making the same test and operating the meters of such lines as are ound to be involved in conversations. 'Should the conversation between the subscril ers of lines A and B continue for a full pr determined interval, the brush 9 completes its cycle and again advances to the terminal 12, and a second charge is made. This proc ess will continue so long as the subscribers have their receivers ot the switchhooks.

At the end of conversation, the subscribers replace their receivers on the switchhooks, and the supervisory relays 7 and 8 release 4 whereby no further operation ot the met-er 3 can take place. The operator disestablishes the connection by removing the plugs 4t and 5 from the respective jacks.

Although the operators cord circuit has been shown in diagrammatic manner, it will be understood that any suitable type of cord circuit maybe employed, that the manner in which the test is made to determine whether the cord is involved in a conversation may be accomplished in numerous ways, and that the operating circuit for the met-er may be estal lished in any suitable manner. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to a system employing operators cord circuits but is applicable as well to automatic systems in which links terminating in automatic switches are involved. It will also be understood that the meter-operating device may take numerous forms and is not limited G0 to the particular embodiment shown in the drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of lines to be connect- N, ed for communication service, meters associ- W ated with said lines, connecting circuits, a

meter operator common to and periodically surveying said circuits in succession, and means associated with said circuits for rendering said operator effective to register time intervals ot service. Y

2. The combination of stations to be connected for communication service, individual meters tor said stations, connecting circuits tor joining two stations, a meter operator common to said connecting circuits and 'serving to make periodic tests of said circuits in succession, and means associated with said circuits for rendering said meter operator effective to register intervals ot service.

3. In combination, lines to be connected for communication service, meters associated with said lines, link circuits for joining any two of said lines, a contacting device common to and periodically surveying sai-d circuits in'succession, and means dependent upon the condition of said circuits for rendering said contacting device effective to operate one of said meters.

e. In combination, subscribers lines, meters associated with said lines, a plurality of cord circuits for joining said lines for conversation, a meter operator common to said cord circuits and actuated to periodically survey said circuits in succession, and means dependentupon the condition of a cord circuit for rendering said meter operator eective to actuate oneof said meters.

5. rIlhe combination of lines to be connected for communication service, meters associated with said lines, connecting circuits, a meter operator common to said circuits including a step-by-step device for periodically surveying said circuits in succession, and means associated with said circuits for rendering said operator eective to register time ,intervals of service.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day of May, 1930.

- AMOS F. DIXON. 

